Disposable sharps container and mounting bracket

ABSTRACT

A secure disposable container (10) and mounting bracket (48) comprises a generally box-like enclosed container having a top shell (22) with a limited access opening (24) with a closure (26) for receiving medical sharps and inhibiting human hand access, the container having a back wall (14) with a downwardly extending slot (30) at an upper edge, and a latching tab (44) at a lower edge thereof, a rectangular panel (50) having a back surface and holes (78, 80) for mounting it to a vertical surface, and mounting tabs (92, 94 and 96) for mounting the panel to another mounting bracket (82) mounted on a vertical supporting surface, an upper edge for receiving the downwardly extending slot (30) on the container and lever operated finger (70) for engaging an opening (45) in the tab (44) on the lower edge of the container and engagement with a transverse ledge.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser.No. 07/617,897, filed Nov. 26, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,997,granted Apr. 14, 1992.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to disposable containers for hospitalsharps and waste, and pertains particularly to a secure mountingassembly and secure disposable container for disposition of hospitalsharps, objects and wastes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hospitals and medical clinics use great quantities of sharps, such asneedles, syringes, surgical blades, and the like, that are disposed ofrather than cleaned and reused. It is necessary that the sharps bedisposed of in a manner that prevents them being reused withoutsterilization. In particular, it is necessary to keep them from fallinginto the hands of those, such as intravenous drug users and the like,who are likely to use them without proper sterilization.

Numerous containers have been developed in recent years, which arereasonably secure and disposable for receiving and disposing of hospitalsharps, wastes and the like. Many of these disposable containers,however, are outdated and do not provide adequate security againstpilfering of used syringes and the like therefrom. While improvedcontainers have been developed which cannot readily be reopened andarticles cannot be easily removed therefrom, such containers must bekept in a secure place or securely mounted to non-removable structure toprevent unauthorized removal. The disposable container and its mountingbracket must not only be secure, it must be simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, and it must be simple and easy to use and to mount andremove the container.

Reasonably secure mounting brackets have been developed and widely usedin the past to prevent unauthorized removal of the containers. However,recently developed improved containers also have new and improvedmounting brackets which are easier to use and are more secure. Theseolder brackets are typically mounted on walls or similar surfaces andare securely anchored by lag bolts and the like. The removal of the oldbracket and the installation of a new bracket requires the services ofskilled workman with special tools, with which the hospitals and clinicsdo not wish to bother. This frequently results in resistance byhospitals and clinics to new and improved disposable containers that mayrequire a different bracket.

An example of a prior art container and mounting bracket is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,736,860 of Bemis dated Apr. 12, 1988. This patentdiscloses a sharps container having a door that provides limited accessto the interior of the container, and having a mounting bracket adaptedto be mounted to a wall with inter-engaging projections and slots on thebracket and container for securing the container to the bracket. Aspecial tool is required to disengage the container from the bracket.

It is, therefore, desirable that an improved securable disposablecontainer and bracket assembly be available which does not requireremoval of the old bracket.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improvedsecurable disposable container and bracket assembly.

In accordance with a primary aspect of the present invention, a securedisposable container assembly comprises a housing for securely anddetachably mounting to a support member, and having an access opening ina top front for receiving a disposable article and preventing access tothe interior of the container by the human hand, and a mounting bracketfor mounting to a vertical support surface or another bracket, and meansfor locking the housing to the support bracket to prevent removal of thecontainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the container showing details of the mountingcomponents of the container;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket of the embodimentof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed partial view of the latching apparatus for thecontainer shown in the unlatched condition;

FIG. 6a is a view like FIG. 5 showing the apparatus in the latchedposition;

FIG. 6b is a view like FIG. 6a showing an alternate embodiment of thelower latch assembly;

FIG. 7 is a partial back elevation view taken generally on line 7--7 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of a prior art bracket;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detailed view of a lower part of the mountingbracket;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the bracket housing; and

FIG. 11 is a view taken generally on line 9--9 of FIG. 7.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is illustrated an exemplaryembodiment of a disposable sharps container assembly in accordance withthe invention, designated generally by the numeral 10. The containercomprises a generally rectangular box-like housing, formed of the usualplastic material for such containers, and detachably mounted to a wallbracket. The housing in its preferred form is formed of a lowersubstantially rectangular open top shell, having a front wall or panel12 and a back wall or panel 14 (FIGS. 3 and 4) defining front and backwalls, and further including opposed side walls 16 and 18. These wallsare formed integral with and extend upward from a generally rectangularbottom panel 20 terminating at a top rectangular peripheral edge anddownturned rim or skirt 30. A generally semi-circular top shell 22 issecured to the top peripheral edge 30 of the rectangular shell 10.

The top cover 22 and bottom shell or housing may be molded together witha live hinge, or they be molded separately and utilize snap lock tabs orhinges (not shown). A live hinge is a thin strip of the housing materialconnecting the two members and allowing them to pivot relative to oneanother. The top cover 22 and the bottom shell may be secured togetherin any number of ways, but preferably by lock tabs 23 that extendthrough slots 25 in the rim 20 (FIG. 3).

The container top cover and bottom shell are preferably injection moldedof a suitable plastic, and preferably formed with a slight taper fromtop to bottom to enable stacking for ease of shipment. The top 22 coverhas a generally semi-cylindrical configuration about a horizontal axis,about which a pivoting closure member is mounted, as more fullydisclosed in the parent application. Referring to FIG. 1, the top cover22 is provided with a top front opening 24 of a generally elongatedconfiguration having circular or oval ends. This opening 24 is formed inthe upper front one side of the top 22 extending approximately one-halfthe length of the top. This opening is designed to receive syringes andthe like for disposal and to secure the syringes against unauthorizedretrieval.

The opening 24 is closed by a pivoting closure member 26 (FIG. 3), asmore fully disclosed in the parent application and the companionapplication. The closure member 26 pivots about a horizontal axis andhas a generally horizontal receiving surface 26a or ledge portiondisposed below the opening 24 for receiving syringes, and a face portion26b extending upward at approximately a forty-five degree angle to anupper curved closure portion 26c. These faces together form acombination closure and self dumping receiving support for disposablearticles, such as a syringe or the like. When a syringe or the like isinserted into the opening and placed on the receiving surface of theclosure, the closure rotates under the weight of the syringe and dumpsit. The closure 26 may be locked in the closed position, with tabs 27extending into slots 29 at the front edge of opening 24.

The container is designed for ease of handling and to this end isprovided with a retractable handle 28 that is preferably moldedintegrally with the lower edge of a peripheral rim or skirt 30. Thehandle 28 is pivotal outwardly, as shown for ease of grasping, anddownward to a retracted position, engaging and latching to the lowerends of detent bars 32 and 34.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the back of the container is provided withmeans for attachment to a wall bracket to be described. The attachmentmeans comprises a downwardly depending skirt or rim 30 between a pair ofslots 36 and 38 extending downwardly from the top back of the container.These slots are formed in outer or outwardly spaced walls 40 and 42 ofdownwardly extending sockets formed on the back wall 14 of thecontainer. The walls 40 and 42 with slots 36 and 38 extend and provideprotective enclosures for attachment tabs for attachment of the top tothe container.

A latching tab 44 at the lower end of the back of the container wall 14extends downward and includes a rectangular opening 45 therethrough forreceiving a latching finger. The tab may be latched in two differentways, as will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6a and 6b.

A wall mounting bracket is illustrated in FIG. 4, designated generallyby the numeral 48, and is constructed to mount either to a verticalsupport surface or to a previously mounted bracket (FIG. 8). Themounting bracket comprises a generally rectangular vertical panelcomprising a generally planar central panel 50 secured to and extendingupwardly from a latching housing 60 to be described. The vertical panelcomprises central panel 50 and forwardly stepped side panels 52 and 54connected by forwardly extending side walls 56 and 58. The central panel50 has an upper edge 50a, which extends into a slot formed by andbeneath the skirt 30 on the back of the container between slots 36 and38. The forwardly extending walls 56 and 58 have upper edges 56a and 58awhich support the upper edge 50a inward from the back face of the panel.This arrangement of upper wall edge 50 engages and supports the upperend of the container.

A lower housing 60 is permanently attached to or made integral with thevertical panel and houses the latching and locking mechanism. The panel50 and the housing 60 are preferably made separately, such as by moldingand latched together by snap-fit latching means, as shown in FIGS. 9-11.The housing 60 is sized and shaped to form the appearance of anextension of the container and to cover the lower end thereof. The faceof panel 50 facing the housing 60 is considered the front face of thepanel for purposes herein.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6a, a lower latch assembly includes a latchrecess 62 which forms a shoulder or ledge 64 on the lower front of panel50, and includes a horizontal extending shoulder or ledge 64 againstwhich a finger 70 of lever 66 is engaged. The preferred form of latchingstructure, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-6, includes a latching finger 70 onthe inner end of a lever 66 which extends through the opening 45 of tab44 and engages shoulder 64 at the bottom of panel 50. After extendingthrough opening 45 in latch tab 44 for latching the container in placeon the mounting bracket, the finger 70 extends under shoulder or ledge64. The latch shoulder 64 is preferably formed as an upper edge of arecess 62 formed in the lower portion of the panel 50.

A latching lever or arm 66 (FIG. 1) is pivotally mounted in the housing60 by a shaft 68, and includes a latching finger 70 on the inner endwhich extends through the opening 45 in tab 44. The latching fingerengages through opening 45 in tab 44 and extends under and intoengagement with latch shoulder surface 64 for latching the container inplace.

The outer end of the arm 66 includes a lock assembly, including arotatable shaft 72, with an arm 74 that extends behind a shoulder 76 andlocks the lever 66 in the inner position. When the lever 66 is pivotedoutward, cam or finger 70 is pulled away from shoulder 64, and the tab44 is released so that the container may be lifted upward and removedfrom the mounting bracket. The lock assembly 72 is of conventionalconstruction, having a key slot for receiving a key to rotate a shaft 72having a finger or arm 74, which in one position engages a shoulder 76in housing 60 for locking the arm in the inner position.

Referring to FIG. 6b, an alternate embodiment is illustrated wherein thetab 44 is biased by a finger 70' acting as a cam or lever outwardly atabout 90 degrees into latching engagement, with a shoulder 64 on and atthe lower edge of the wall mount for latching the container in place tothe wall mount. The tab 44 extends down at the outer edge of a cavity orrecess 46 in the bottom back edge of the container.

The mounting bracket 48 may be mounted to a vertical support surface,such as a wall by screws or lag bolts extending through mounting holes78 and 80. It may also preferably be constructed to mount onto othermounting brackets. An exemplary embodiment of a typical wedge typebracket is illustrated in FIG. 8, and includes a panel 82 having uppermounting holes 84 and lower mounting holes 86 for attachment by bolts orscrews to a wall or the like. The panel includes a pair of non-parallelsides 88 and 90 forming opposed downwardly diverging mounting rails forreceiving a disposable container or the like.

The panel of applicants' bracket, as illustrated in FIG. 7, includes aplurality of opposed fingers or tabs 92, 96, and 98 which extend outwardfrom the back of the panel 50, around and engage the side rails 88 and90 for mounting applicants' bracket onto the prior art bracket 82. Thesefingers are stepped out or diverge downward, as seen in FIG. 7, tocooperate with diverging rails 88 and 90. A pair of fingers 98 on theprior art bracket 82 engages a ledge 100 on the back face of applicants'panel for locking the applicants' bracket in place on the prior artbracket (FIG. 5). This essentially permanently locks the applicants'bracket to the prior art bracket. The applicants' bracket is providedwith holes for access to mounting screws of the prior art bracket.

Referring FIGS. 9 and 10, the snap in connection between the back paneland lower housing of the wall bracket is best illustrated. Referringfirst to FIG. 9, the container side of the back panel is illustrated andhas a lower portion which extends below a horizontal bar or shoulder102. This lower portion is adapted to extend and latch into a backrecess or socket portion of the lower housing 60 (FIG. 11). A latchassembly on each side of the bracket includes a pair of guide rails 104and 106 on the lower panel, which engage L-shaped guide notches 108 and110 on the lower housing (FIG. 10) to guide and hold the panel inposition. A latch tab 112 between the rails 104 and 106 engages ashoulder 114 on the housing 60 and latches the panel and housingtogether. A center guide assembly includes similar rails 116 and 118which engage guide slots 120 and 122. When the panel and the lowerhousing is secured together, the tabs 112 are inaccessible and thehousing and panel become non-removably locked together.

In normal operation, to dispose of a syringe as viewed in FIG. 1, thesyringe is inserted into the top opening, with the needle extendingtoward the left to extend inside and underneath the top of the housing,such that the body of the syringe is placed on the horizontal closuresurface (not shown). The weight of the syringe overcomes thecounterweight of the closure, and tilts the closure member to dump thesyringe into the container. As soon as the container is filled, thecontainer is removed and another container is mounted on the wallbracket.

Removal of the container is accomplished by inserting a key in the lock72 and rotating the key until the lock is released. The key and lever 66is then pulled outward to pivot the lever and release the tab 44 on thecontainer from engagement by cam or finger 70. The container is thenlifted upwardly, such by handle 28 releasing the slots from engagementwith the upper back of the bracket panel. The container is then removedand a new container installed by reversal of the above procedure.

The mounting bracket 48 is preferably provided with upper holes 124 andlower holes 126 aligned with mounting holes 84 and 86 on mountingbracket 82 to enable access to screws or the like therein. This enablesthe bracket to be removed from a wall.

While we have illustrated and described our invention by means ofspecific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. We furtherassert and sincerely believe that the above specification contains awritten description of the invention and the manner and process ofmaking and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as toenable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with whichit is most nearly concerned, to make and use the same, and further thatit sets forth the best mode contemplated by us for carrying out theinvention.

We claim:
 1. A combination secure sharps disposal container and mountingbracket assembly therefor, comprising:a generally box-like enclosedcontainer having a top with a limited access closure for receivingmedical sharps and inhibiting access by a human hand; a mounting bracketfor mounting said container to a supporting structure comprising agenerally rectangular panel having a top and a bottom and firstattaching means for attachment to a vertical support structure; firstlatching means at said top of said mounting bracket for latchingengagement with an upper edge of said container; and second latchingmeans at the bottom of said container and said mounting bracketcomprising a tab on said container and a lever mounted on said mountingbracket for pivotal movement into latching engagement with said tab,wherein said lever is mounted for pivoting toward and away from saidpanel, and said tab includes a slot through which one end of said leverextends.
 2. A secure combination according to claim 1 wherein:said firstlatching means comprises an upwardly extending horizontal edge at saidtop of said panel for engaging a downwardly opening mounting slot onsaid disposable container.
 3. A combination according to claim 2wherein:said panel includes second attaching means for attachment to asecond bracket.
 4. A combination according to claim 3 wherein:saidmounting bracket comprise a housing at the bottom of said panel and saidlever is pivotally mounted in said housing.
 5. A combination accordingto claim 4 wherein:said housing includes locking means for locking saidlever in an inner position wherein said one end of said lever extendsthrough said slot in said tab.
 6. A combination according to claim 5wherein:said housing and said panel are constructed as separate elementsand secured together by latching means at the bottom of said panel thatis inaccessible when in the latched position.
 7. A combination securesharps disposal container and mounting bracket assembly therefor,comprising:a generally box-like enclosed container having a top with alimited access closure for receiving medical sharps and inhibitingaccess by a human hand; a mounting bracket for mounting said containerto a supporting structure comprising generally rectangular panel havinga top and a bottom and first attaching means for attachment to avertical support structure; first latching means at said top of saidmounting bracket for latching engagement with an upper edge of saidcontainer; second latching means at the bottom of said container andsaid mounting bracket comprising a tab on said container and a levermounted on said mounting bracket for pivotal movement into latchingengagement with said tab; and said mounting bracket comprising a housingat the bottom of said panel, and said lever is mounted for pivotingtoward and away from said panel, and said tab includes a slot throughwhich one end of said lever extends.
 8. A combination according to claim7 wherein:said housing includes locking means for locking said lever inan inner position wherein said one end of said lever extends throughsaid slot in said tab.
 9. A combination according to claim 9wherein:said housing and said panel are constructed as separate elementsand secured together by latching means at the bottom of said panel, saidlatching means being inaccessible when in the latched position.
 10. Acombination secure disposable container and mounting bracket assemblytherefor, comprising:a generally box-like enclosed container having atop with a limited access closure for receiving medical sharps and forinhibiting access by a human hand; said container having a back wallwith downwardly opening vertically extending latching slot means at anupper edge thereof, and a latching tab at a lower edge thereof, saidlatching tab having a slot therein; a mounting bracket comprising agenerally rectangular panel having a back mounting surface and means formounting said panel to a vertical support surface; an upwardly directedtransverse edge for extending into said downwardly opening verticallyextending latching slot means on said container; a lower transverseledge on said panel; and lever operated latching finger for latchingengagement with said slot in said tab on said lower edge of saidcontainer and with said lower transverse ledge.
 11. A secure disposablecontainer assembly according to claim 10 wherein said mounting panelincludes second mounting means for mounting said panel on a secondmounting bracket.
 12. A combination according to claim 11 wherein saidsecond mounting means comprises fingers spaced outward from the back ofsaid mounting panel for engaging diverging side rails of a wedge typemounting bracket.
 13. A combination according to claim 12 wherein:saidmounting bracket comprises a housing at the bottom of said panel andsaid lever is pivotally mounted in said housing; and said housingincludes locking means for locking said lever in an inner positionwherein said finger engages said slot in said tab.
 14. A combinationaccording to claim 13 wherein said downwardly extending latching slotmeans comprises a downwardly turned lip at an upper edge of saidcontainer.
 15. A secure combination according to claim 14 wherein saiddownwardly extending latching slot means is disposed between a pair oflaterally spaced forwardly extending wall members.
 16. A securecombination according to claim 15 wherein said pivotable closureincludes locking tabs for engaging slots in said top adjacent saidaccess opening for permanently locking said closure in a closedposition.
 17. A combination secure disposable container and mountingbracket assembly therefor, comprising:a generally box-like enclosedcontainer having a top with a limited access closure for receivingmedical sharps and for inhibiting access by a human hand; said containerhaving a back wall with downwardly opening vertically extending latchingslot means at an upper edge thereof, and a downwardly extending latchingtab at a lower edge thereof, said latching tab having a slot therein; amounting bracket comprising a generally rectangular panel having a backmounting surface and first mounting means for mounting said panel to avertical support surface, and second mounting means for mounting saidpanel to another mounting bracket mounted on a vertical supportingsurface; an upper vertically directed transverse edge for extending intosaid downwardly opening latching slot on said container; a lowertransverse ledge at a front bottom portion of said panel; lever operatedfinger for latching engagement with said slot in said tab on said loweredge of said container and said lower transverse ledge; a housing at thebottom of said panel and said lever is pivotally mounted in saidhousing; and said housing includes locking means for locking said leverin an inner position wherein said finger is biased to said latchedposition.
 18. A combination according to claim 17 wherein said secondmounting means comprises fingers spaced outward from the back of saidmounting panel for engaging diverging side rails of a wedge typemounting bracket.
 19. A combination according to claim 18 wherein saidhousing and said panel are constructed as separate elements and securedtogether by latching means at the bottom of said panel, said latchingmeans being inaccessible when in the latched position.